CARDIFF CITY defender Andrew Taylor has insisted the Bluebirds are the best team outside of the Premier League and vowed: “We want to go up as champions.”

CARDIFF CITY defender Andrew Taylor has insisted the Bluebirds are the best team outside of the Premier League and vowed: “We want to go up as champions.”

Cardiff’s attempts to do just that get a severe test today as second-placed Middlesbrough arrive in the Welsh capital for a mouth-watering Championship showdown.

Tony Mowbray’s side are in sizzling form, unbeaten in their last nine games, but the Bluebirds could make it a record-equalling nine home wins on the bounce with victory.

Only back in 1951-52 and 2000-01 did Cardiff manage nine wins on the trot in front of their own fans. They have never before done it at the start of a campaign.

Taylor believes the Bluebirds’ Class of 2012 are ready to emulate that today and insists Cardiff are essentially a Premier League side in waiting.

And, as he prepares to face the club he joined at the age of nine, the full-back has shown his commitment to the Cardiff cause by signing a two-year extension to his current deal to potentially keep him at the club until 2016.

“It’s great for me. I’ve settled very quickly here. I think the club is moving in the right direction and we are ready to be in the Premier League,” said 26-year-old Taylor.

“Hopefully I will be part of that. The club have shown their confidence in me.

“I didn’t need any persuasion to sign. I’m very happy here. I’m enjoying my football and I’m at a big club which is ready to make the step up. I’ve never been happier.

“I think if you want automatic promotion you want to win the league. It means you are the best in the league and that is what we are striving for. Hopefully, come the end of the season, that is where we will be.

“I think we’ve got the best team and squad in the league. Don’t get me wrong, there’s five teams in the league very capable of getting promoted.

“But I think we’ve got a strong squad, great staff behind us and a very strong fan base. I see no reason why we can’t go on and win the league.”

Taylor came through the youth ranks at Boro before his move to Cardiff in July last year.

In the corresponding fixture last season it was the Teessiders who got the upper hand 3-2, and Taylor admits he found it tough playing for the first time against his only previous club.

And this time around Taylor acknowledges the second against third clash is as big an encounter as the Bluebirds have had, but maintains he and his team-mates hold the upper hand.

“That was disappointing last season because it was my first encounter against Boro,” said Taylor.

“I tried to approach it as another game, but I think it’s natural to notice a bit of pressure in your first encounter with your old team. They had a lot of my friends in the side who I had grown up with, but that’s gone. It’s just another big game.

“The manager has his own team there. It took him time to get rid of the players he didn’t want there and get those he did. It took him a while to impose his style. They play really good football.

“But, personally, I think we have a better squad. We’ve got very good strength in depth.

“We had four or five injuries recently and we’ve still had a strong enough team and bench to go out and win games. That’s important if you are going to go on and win this league.

“The way things have panned out it is the biggest game so far in terms of league positions. We have just got to focus in the right manner and hopefully we will come out of it with the three points. If we win, we go two points ahead of them and, if they win, they are four points ahead, which is more than a win then to catch them up.

“It’s an important game, but the season is not going to be decided on it. It’s a good game for the players and the fans and one everyone will be looking forward to.”

One big incentive for Taylor and his team-mates is to equal that club record nine home games on the bounce.

But, if things have been going perfectly in the Welsh capital so far, on the road things have been far less satisfactory for manager Malky Mackay and his men.

They have already lost five times away, last time out they surrendered a 2-0 lead at Charlton to crash 5-4.

Taylor admits, however good Cardiff’s home form might be, the away record must pick up, particularly if the defender’s dream of lifting the title is to have any basis in reality.

And with trips to Barnsley and Derby coming up next, Taylor knows the improvement must begin sooner, rather than later.

“Our home record is very good and we’d like to make it nine and equal the record,” added Taylor.

“The fans are brilliant, they really get behind the team and we are playing very confidently at home.

“It’s unlikely you are going to win every home game, but there’s no reason you can’t keep on winning for a long period. We believe we can win and so do the fans.

“If we managed a few more wins on the road we’d be clear by now. We’ve played different formations away from home, we’ve played the same formation away as we have at home, so it can’t be that.

“To be honest, I can’t put my finger on it. The Charlton game was embarrassing individually and collectively. But that’s football, we have to move on and try to put things right.

“After Boro we’ve got two away games to try to get six points from. It’s important we set it right. Sooner, rather than later, we have to put an end to that.

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